BYU QB Hill originally committed to Stanford

Updated 8:31 pm, Wednesday, December 25, 2013

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill has emerged in his sophomore season, rushing for 1,211 yards and passing for 2,645 more.

BYU quarterback Taysom Hill has emerged in his sophomore season, rushing for 1,211 yards and passing for 2,645 more.

Photo: Cathleen Allison, Associated Press

BYU QB Hill originally committed to Stanford

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If the dominoes had toppled in a different sequence, Taysom Hill might be leading Stanford into the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day instead of BYU in the Fight Hunger Bowl on Friday night at AT&T Park.

No regrets, though. The dual-threat quarterback is happy to be at BYU as the Cougars prepare to play Washington in a matchup of 8-4 teams.

The what-ifs are compelling, however. If Hill had followed through on his commitment to attend Stanford before taking his Mormon mission in 2010, would he have beaten out Kevin Hogan to become the Cardinal's starter?

However, Hill did say of Stanford, "I think I could have been successful in that system. That's why I committed there. I haven't looked back or questioned my decision."

There's no reason for him to do so. Hill, sturdily built at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, played in six games as a freshman before losing the rest of the 2012 season to a knee injury. In 12 starts as a sophomore this season, he showed the full extent of his skills by rushing for 1,211 yards and nine touchdowns and passing for 2,645 yards and 19 touchdowns.

That type of versatility often stretches a defense to the point of breaking, something Washington defensive end Hau'oli Kikaha is keenly aware of as he prepares for the game.

"He's my main focus," said Kikaha, who this season had 10 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. "He's fast and elusive and a big guy. He's a running back playing quarterback. He's a powerful guy and he can also throw the rock. You've always got to be aware of where he's at. He's the key to their offense."

When he was the head coach at Stanford, Jim Harbaugh wanted Hill to be the key to his offense. Hill committed to the Cardinal before his senior season in 2008 and thought everything was kosher when he went on his two-year LDS mission to Australia in 2010. (Where, by the way, he said he was received "not very well" by the religiously indifferent Aussies.)

"I was high on Coach Harbaugh, wanted to play for his school," Hill said. "About a year out is when he took the job at San Francisco. I was still going to go to Stanford. Then I found out Stanford wanted me to come home four months before my mission ended. I didn't want to do it. They wouldn't allow me to enroll in January because of their policy."

Hill said Stanford, now led by David Shaw, wanted him to return home early to enroll in the fall of 2011 and redshirt that year. What Hill wanted to do was enroll in January 2012, take part in spring practice and see where his skills took him regarding the starting job that Hogan eventually won.

Instead, Hill stayed true to his commitment to finish his mission while switching his commitment from Stanford.

"I was high on BYU before the mission," he said. "With Coach Harbaugh leaving and the enrollment issues, that's what led to me coming here. It wasn't something I thought was a problem. I thought (Stanford) would be able to work around it. When it came down to it, it obviously was an issue."

At BYU, Hill is part of a continuum of excellence at the quarterback position that has included Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young and Ty Detmer. Young, for one, has been in contact with Hill and sent him a congratulatory text after he led BYU to a 40-21 victory over Texas on Sept. 7.

"Steve and I play similar," Hill said. "I can do some things Steve did well and some things better. I definitely remember him at the Niners. I've had some personal encounters with Steve since I've been here. He's a great guy."